See magic on and off the field in London

London

Mesmerising London is brimming with activities for all the family, from admiring national emblems like the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, to taking in a show in the glitzy West End or picnicking in a Royal Park. Shopping expeditions range from traditional East End markets like Spitalfields and Petticoat Lane to bustling Oxford Street and Kensington High Street in the west, while Soho and Shoreditch are prime spots for chic nights out on the town. Easy day trips out of London include an hour’s train journey south to the kitsch seaside resort of Brighton.

Don’t miss

London is packed with ‘must-see’ sights. An open-top bus tour is a great way of taking in many iconic attractions in one sitting, such as the 52-metre Nelson’s Column and Sir Christopher Wren’s domed St Paul’s cathedral. For unparalleled views over the city and beyond, hop inside a capsule on the London Eye, or take in the view from the gleaming Shard. A dark side to London’s past is on show behind the battlements at the Tower of London, while rejuvenated Stratford in the east is still revelling in its London 2012 facelift with additions to the green and spacious Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park including the Velo Park and Aquatic Centre.

Explore the city

Let Richmond Heritage Guides take you through London’s historic past on one of their many walking tours operating south of the river, from exploring the remains of a Tudor Royal Palace in Richmond to seeing where exiled French Royals found refuge in Twickenham.

Great for families

A safari in the city can be enjoyed on the edge of Regent’s Park at London Zoo. Kids love watching acrobatic penguins at feeding time and getting up close to huge primates at Gorilla Kingdom, not to mention the Tiger Territory. Over in South Kensington, meet the bionic man and marvel at space rockets at the free-entry Science Museum as well as the infamous dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum.

Go shopping

From the delectable food stalls at Borough Market in London Bridge, to burgeoning flowers at Columbia Road, gleaming antiques and kitsch souvenirs on Portobello Road to the trendy togs and trinkets at east London’s Spitalfields, markets are one of London’s fortes. Don’t miss the quirky BOXPARK in Shoreditch, the world’s first pop-up mall made of shipping containers. For high street heaven there’s Oxford Street, High Street Kensington and the mighty Westfield shopping malls at Shepherds Bush and Stratford, and for all-out luxury delve into Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason.

Explore the area

Step behind the scenes on the magical film set at Hogwarts wizardry school and view iconic props like the speedy Nimbus 2000 broomstick on the Harry Potter tour at Warner Bros Studio Tour London, just 20 miles away in Leavesden. Also within an hour’s travel of the capital find adrenaline rushes aplenty at theme parks Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park.

Get active

Swap your rugby shirt for a lifejacket and try kayaking or rafting on the rapids at London 2012 Olympic venue Lee Valley White Water Centre – just 20 minutes from Liverpool Street station – where you can learn to raft or canoe and perfect your skills. Or stay in the heart of the city and see the royal Buckingham and Kensington palaces, with welcome pit stops at some traditional English pubs, on a Fat Tire Bike Tour. To experience Land Rover’s legendary all-terrain expertise in safe, thrilling and true-to-life driving adventures you can visit Land Rover Experience London Luton.

Did you know?

London has around 150 theatres showing a wide range of musicals, plays and fringe dramas.